Jubal Anderson Early
was born in Franklin County, Virginia, February 3, 1816 and graduated from West Point in 1837. He voted against secession in the Virginia convention in April, 1861, but joined the Confederacy as Colonel of the 24th Virginia, which he led at 1st Manassas. He took part in all the engagements of the Army of Northern Virginia from 1862 to 1864. In 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant general and sent by Robert E. Lee to the Shenandoah Valley. In July, he marched into Maryland and, after victory at the Battle of Monocacy, attacked Washington. He was driven back by the arrival of the 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. In September, 1864 his army in the Shenandoah was defeated by William T. Sherman. The remnants of Early's command were dispersed by George Custer in March, 1865. After the war, he fled to Mexico, but later returned to resume his law practice in Lynchburg, Virginia. Jubal Early died on March 2, 1894.Source: "Generals in Gray" Warner, Ezra J.
